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[zarathustra]

Any other sufferers of seasonal depression, but mostly during the spring months?

 Most years I have a bout of minor depression in March or April.  It's not too bad right now, more like a consistent "bad attitude" but it's still aggravating, especially combined with the normal accelerated grind of work in the spring months.

I'm about to force myself to go for a walk, but I'd rather take a nap.  Later, I'm going to dig out the fish oil pills and start taking them regularly too.  And the vitamins.

What kinds of things do you all do to cope?

[scheherazade]

Identify the friends who always make you laugh and take your mind off things.  Talk to them a lot.  I've been struggling myself with depression these last few weeks (although this is not a normal time of year for me to do so), and this has helped immensely.

[dept_geek]

Zara - I get it bad in Feb-March and Oct-Nov. This year we are trying the 'gym rat' solution.  Other things I have tried have not worked, so maybe this will.

I'm also trying the 'go out and watch people do things' method. Sitting in a sports bar or the food court at the mall seems to be the best so far.

Other years, I've tried doing absurdly silly things with silly friends - that helped some.  I'll let you know how it all works around Thanksgiving

[skinnymargarita]

like a consistent "bad attitude" but it's still aggravating, especially combined with the normal accelerated grind of work in the spring months.

I'm about to force myself to go for a walk, but I'd rather take a nap.  Later, I'm going to dig out the fish oil pills and start taking them regularly too.  And the vitamins.

Is that what it is called? I thought I just needed a job change!

Napping makes it worse, exercise helps. Getting a good nights' sleep helps a lot. Trying not to do too much and getting together with friends. Deproloft, by THORNE RESEARCH http://www.amazon.com/Deproloft-120-caps/dp/B000WQ08HC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1239327472&sr=8-1
Take your vitamins and fish oils! Eat well, and drink lots of water. Soon, spring semester will be over - keep those positive thoughts!

[dr_evil]

I think I have it bad this year because of the Winter That Will Never End.  I usually get down around the end of winter (cabin fever).  The good news is that the weather has been improving, including some wonderful, cheer-inducing sunshine.  I recommend trying to find a day with good weather and a nice walk to enjoy it. 

Unfortunately the good weather has mostly been on days I've been too busy for this, but I still have plans to do this.  I have moved to doing my office work where I can at least sit in the sun, even if I'm still trapped inside.

[hibiscus]

I am greatly affected by SAD, albeit in winter.  Currently, I fear I am becoming a bit agorophobic.  A stressful job search is not helping anything of course :-(  Exercise is wonderful, but finding the motivation to get moving is herculean.  Depression sucks.

[zarathustra]

Depression really sucks. Makes it very hard to teach. I'm having trouble even getting excited about adopting my puppy.

[treehouse]

I once met someone who nicknamed their puppy Zoloft.

[prytania3]

Zara, I have rose fever. It's actually the springtime equivalent of hay fever, but rose fever sounds so much nicer. Anyway, you could be getting spring depression because of allergies.

Or it might just be that April is the cruelest month.

[zarathustra]

Zara, I have rose fever. It's actually the springtime equivalent of hay fever, but rose fever sounds so much nicer. Anyway, you could be getting spring depression because of allergies.

Or it might just be that April is the cruelest month.

Yeah, I've considered that too.  But do allergies make you cry for no apparent reason?

My depression seems to be lightening, but I'm still bloody unmotivated.

[prytania3]

Zara, I have rose fever. It's actually the springtime equivalent of hay fever, but rose fever sounds so much nicer. Anyway, you could be getting spring depression because of allergies.

Or it might just be that April is the cruelest month.

Yeah, I've considered that too.  But do allergies make you cry for no apparent reason?

My depression seems to be lightening, but I'm still bloody unmotivated.

Never underestimate the power of a springtime allergy. Yes, allergies can make you cry and make you not want to get off the couch. A shot of cortizone can do wonders. Don't get in the habit of getting a cortizone shot more than once or twice tops a year. though.

[sikora]

April-May are the most dangerous months for me.  It seems that total decompensation occurs in even numbered years. In 2002, I lost my job to agitated depression.  In 2004, I was hospitalized for a week.  In 2006, I got so sick I needed ECT (which, by the way, was extremely effective.  It saved my life, for whatever that is worth).  Last year, I spent April-May-June a mess, and went into a partial hospitalization program for 30 days.

That kind of pattern doesn't make for a good resume/cv.

I don't know what to say except do those things that help, and take it seriously.  It is hell.

[psychdiva]

My depression seems to be lightening, but I'm still bloody unmotivated.

I used to feel very good in the spring and early summer but for the past two years, I've slipped into a bad funk in April and stayed there until October. It's not as bad as a major depressive episode but it still sucks. I'm deeply unmotivated, have been taking two naps a day, don't much care about the nice weather or upcoming social events. No tears or irritability, just a deep sense of lassitude. I'm on Cymbalta but I think that's just keeping me from getting worse...and I slept through an afternoon appointment with the psychiatrist today. Last week, I added SAMe and fish oil. Fingers crossed that they help. PsychDiva is a psych wreck.

[thundering_m]

A few thoughts from a fellow sufferer: Depression is highly correlated with anemia, dehydration, sleep deprivation, hormone imbalance, and inertia. It is therefore somewhat modified by iron supplements, adequate water and sleep, periodic physicals, and routine movement of all sorts. 

Physical movement is to increase distribution of oxygen; dispositionally, any progress generates hope and to rediscover purpose; intellectually, movement is necessary to find meaning and solve problems. Movement is therefore an indicator:  passivity and withdrawal are the downward spiral to debilitating melancholy. Having experienced some disturbingly deep and chronic depressive episodes, I can get panicky at the thought of the downward spiral, or as Solomon (2004) called it, the 'Noonday Demon'. 

If I notice that I am reluctant to participate in an optional social event, or prefer my own company to that of my family, or spend more time at the screen instead of the dinner table, I know that I am succumbing. The main thing is to monitor my own triggers and to take action, just about any action, to reverse momentum . This includes such small things as delaying decisions rather than making snap judgements to avoid the suspense.

Medication works to some degree but with some cost. Self-medication is more indulgent than therapeutic. My current drug of choice is carbs, which is not good, either. Bibliotherapy usually works for me: reading or viewing depression-related essays and drama. A somewhat recent (5 years) favorite: Off the Map and of course the aforementioned Solomon.

[zarathustra]

Hey TM!  Always awesome to hear from you!

Noonday Demon is one of my favorite books.  I also keep Touched with Fire (Kay Redfield Jamison) handy and a compilation of essays of depression sufferers and their SO's or friends--title escapes me and I'm too lazy to look it up at the moment.  If anyone wants to know what it is, let me know and I'll look it up for you.

I got a dog, just so I could get some help with battling inerti during downtime, like summer vacation, and getting regular exercise.  Hormones are a monthly struggle, but again, exercising (and eating well---ie, avoiding carbs or sugar or booze) is essential.  The dog's schedule is also helping me avoid some of my indulgences....staying up super late, getting my sleep schedule messed up, etc. 

I'll look up that Off the Map.  Thanks for the suggestion!